THE “tussle” between the Congress Leaders and the Cabinet Mission is still reportedly continuing… .

The Congress is understood to be concentrating mainly on (1) getting Clause (v) of Paragraph 15, and Clause (viii) of Paragraph 19 “amplified” in such a manner that the provinces will be deemed to have the right of opting out of a Group at the initial stage, if the present legislatures so desire; …(3) making it certain that (a) the Plan will be proceeded with, without the Muslim League, if the latter decides to reject it, and (b) an Interim Government will be set up in the manner suggested by the Congress itself, and without the Muslim League, if the League refuses to come in.

On none of these points Congress so far appear to have obtained much satisfaction, although the Mission have assured Congress leaders that there is no bar in the Plan itself against all the points raised by the Congress being decided in the manner suggested by it, provide the major parties agree on such decisions. But the Congress wants a unilateral arrangement with the Mission in order to modify the plan according to its liking, without any reference to the League at all…

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2021